Maidens of Mayhem: Roller derby hits fairgrounds on Saturday

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Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

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Posted Sep. 5, 2013 at 12:18 PM

Posted Sep. 5, 2013 at 12:18 PM

YREKA

The Jefferson State Maidens of Mayhem Roller Derby team conclude their season on Saturday night with a match in Yreka at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds.
Maidens of Mayhem player Sara Klebig, also known by her roller derby name of McCrusher, who is the spokeswoman for the team, talks about the bout and how the season has gone for the team.
How are practices going in preparation for the match on Saturday?
Our season is approximately nine months long and we train for these bouts at every practice. Practices are two hours long. We have them on Tuesday and Thursdays in Mount Shasta at Shastice Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. We also have the Etna City Dance Hall for our North County ladies and will be running practices there on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., except the first and third Monday when it's 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. As we approach the bout, the practices include a variety of strategy planning, off skates drills, laying on hard hits, endurance training and building solid walls.
For those who have never gone to a roller derby event before, why should they check this one out?
Roller derby is a high energy, blood pumping sport. In fact, it's the fastest growing sport in the USA. If you have never been to a bout, this is the perfect opportunity to do so because this bout in particular is a tribute to the active duty and veteran's of Siskiyou County. The goal of our team is to provide live, family friendly entertainment while supporting our community. We encourage you to come check us out, help support our cause.
What can folks expect on Saturday night?
The crowd can expect a great match up with a full house. We sold out our first home bout in May, with standing room only. The Jefferson State Maidens of Mayhem, are 1-3 and we are coming off of our first big win against the Red Bluff Derby Girls, 179-141, back in June. We've been to a lot of bouts as both players and spectators, but I have to say Siskiyou County fans are definitely the loudest, most energetic group of people that we've encountered to date. The volume of the venue really helps in building the level excitement as the bout rages on. We cannot wait to see this weekend's turnout.
Could you tell me a bit about the team and the women who are taking part?
The Jefferson State Maidens of Mayhem are about to celebrate their first birthday. We currently have 33 members on our team, this number includes skaters, referees, non-skating officials and volunteers. We have 14 rostered skaters that meet the WFTDA skill set at this time. We are also proud to have six new freshies (new girls) that will be ready to bout in our 2014 season. We anticipate more growth through the remainder of the year and are excited to start introducing our members via our Facebook page- Jefferson State Maidens of Mayhem.
What are some little known fact about roller derby you would like the public to know about?
Little known fact, there are ,actually three positions (not two, which is commonly misreported) in Roller Derby; Jammer (Star helmet cover), Blocker, and Pivot (stripped helmet cover). The Jammer laps the opposing team members. The blockers help create a pack that protects the Jammer. The Pivot is a blocker who can be designated as a Jammer during a jam as long as their helmet colors are transferred over properly, they can also act as a temporary captain to the pack.
The bout's theme is “Red, White & Bruised,” a tribute to service men and women. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the match begins at 7 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden located off of Highway 97 in Lake Shastina. The Maidens of Mayhem have specifically requested that the funds go toward adding the names of service members whose family may not otherwise be able to afford to place their loved one's name on the Memorial Wall. Reserved seating will be provided on a first come, first serve basis for military members and they will also have accommodations for disabled vets.
There will be special ticket pricing of $5 at the door for all active and veteran military members (Military ID must be provided). Pre-sale tickets are available for $10 and will be $12 at the door the day of the event. Children 10 and under are free. Due to the popularity of our last event. Tickets may be purchased from one of the Maidens of Mayhem, Old Skool Ink of Yreka, Small Town of Ink of Mount Shasta, or online at brownpapertickets.com (Event 427332).